Everyone, Come Watch the Chess Game Live

The timeline rewinds a few hours earlier.

Noon.

Social Practice Club.

Inside the clubroom.

Gu Ruoxue massaged her temples with a pained expression.

Su Cheng's unexpectedly high-profile actions had clearly caught her off guard.

The situation had escalated to the point where protecting Su Cheng's reputation and standing had become imperative.

Originally, her intention had been simple—just having Su Cheng mention it when he went to the Go Club in the afternoon to play against Si Jing would have been enough.

But now, the entire school had gotten wind of the news, meaning Si Jing was inevitably aware as well.

As a result, things would no longer follow the original plan.

This match was no longer just an ordinary game—it had escalated into a battle for the Go Club's honor.

It now represented the club's dignity.

Gu Ruoxue let out a soft sigh, contemplating how to resolve this troublesome situation.

Just then—

"Knock, knock—"

The clubroom door was rapped twice. Gu Ruoxue looked up toward the entrance, composed herself, and called out, "Come in."

Soon after, Li Guanqi pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Senior."

Li Guanqi's face remained as calm as still water, but the slight furrow of her brows betrayed her inner unrest—she was clearly agitated.

"I assume you're here about what happened this morning?"

Gu Ruoxue stood up, her expression neutral, and fetched a disposable cup from the side, pouring water before handing it to Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi nodded, accepted the cup, took a sip after sitting down, and then spoke unhurriedly, "Senior, you must have realized by now that we need to reassess the current situation. We must ensure Su Cheng's reputation isn't tarnished."

"Yes, this matter originated because of me," Gu Ruoxue acknowledged with a nod. "I was just thinking of a strategy. I'll do my best to make amends."

Li Guanqi pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment before saying, "If we want to quell the uproar, it's just that..."

"I understand."

Gu Ruoxue's expression turned solemn. "We need to test Si Jing's stance first, then seek a compromise through negotiation to appease her dissatisfaction. I'll propose a reasonable solution in the end."

Li Guanqi nodded, but another concern crossed her mind, prompting her to frown and ask, "So, Senior, what exactly is your proposed solution?"

"All she wants is a worthy opponent. If that's the case, she can simply come to the Social Practice Club whenever she wants to play in the future."

Gu Ruoxue seemed to have already thought through the remedy for this situation and had insight into Si Jing's psychology and desires, so she stated it outright.

Li Guanqi paused at this, then asked hesitantly, "So, you're suggesting postponing the match between her and Su Cheng?"

"Exactly."

Gu Ruoxue smiled faintly, though her tone carried an undeniable firmness.

This made Li Guanqi's frown deepen. Because now, a shared problem lay before them.

If it was merely a postponement, the two would still face each other eventually.

But the issue was—Su Cheng didn't even know how to play Go.

Which meant...

Someone would have to teach Su Cheng how to play.

So, who would that person be?

"Senior, some time ago, she once asked me..."

Li Guanqi had just begun to remind her, but Gu Ruoxue cut her off, speaking rapidly, "Junior Li, let's set that aside for now. We need to act quickly—let's head to the Go Club!"

Hearing this, Li Guanqi already understood Gu Ruoxue's intentions. Though she frowned slightly, she still followed her out of the club and toward the Go Club.

Because right now, the most urgent matter was salvaging Su Cheng's reputation and image.

But what neither of them expected was—

Ji Qingyi had beaten them to it.

………………………………

Go Club.

As Su Cheng arrived, the previously noisy environment instantly fell silent. The Go Club members all stopped what they were doing, turning their attention to the newcomer and scrutinizing him closely.

Throughout his walk here, whether facing onlookers from other clubs, members of the student council and disciplinary committee, or even teachers and classmates, Su Cheng maintained an unflappable, composed demeanor—his calmness and confidence were nothing short of admirable.

"Facing such a crowd, he doesn't even flinch. If it were me, I wouldn't have dared to come. His composure is truly impressive."

"What nonsense are you spouting? He used to be cheered on by tens of thousands in the stadium. A small gathering like this is nothing to him!"

"Ah, right! I completely forgot about that!"

Two seniors at the entrance whispered among themselves upon seeing Su Cheng. And it wasn't just them—others also began murmuring.

"Su Cheng, look over here!"

At that moment, a golden-haired girl in a white school uniform didn't bother keeping her voice down. Instead, she raised her camera and called out excitedly to Su Cheng.

Su Cheng's steps faltered, and he turned toward the voice.

The girl was snapping photos of him enthusiastically, and a flicker of surprise crossed Su Cheng's face.

Because this was the same girl who had given him two chocolates at the supermarket—one for himself and another to pass along to Su Cheng.

In that instant, as Su Cheng turned, the girl swiftly captured the shot.

"Click—"

With someone leading the charge, other underclassmen girls followed suit, pulling out their phones to take pictures. Some bolder ones even approached Su Cheng, attempting to take a selfie with him.

As the match threatened to devolve into a fan meet-and-greet, the Go Club members and disciplinary committee finally stepped in.

They rushed forward to quell the commotion, forming a barrier to keep the eager girls at bay.

After all, underclassmen and upperclassmen rarely interacted due to being in separate areas. With such a rare opportunity to see Su Cheng up close, none of them wanted to miss it.

Under the guidance of the Go Club members, Su Cheng was led to a specially prepared Go board.

The board was set with meticulously polished stones, as if awaiting a duel between two masters.

And clearly, one of those "masters" was him.

"Everyone, please remain calm."

The head of the disciplinary committee swept a stern gaze across the room. "This is the Go Club, not a marketplace. Please mind your behavior."

"Can we at least go inside to watch?"

One girl raised the question.

"No!"

Just then, the student council vice president arrived with a group of staff carrying professional equipment.

He strode to the entrance and declared firmly, "Go requires a quiet environment. Any disturbance or noise could affect the players' focus and judgment, altering the outcome."

Though his reasoning made sense, a few daring underclassmen girls still protested, "What's the big deal? We promise to stay quiet and not cause any trouble! You can't seriously expect all of us to just stand around outside like idiots, can you?"

"Of course, we also recognize the need to find a better way for everyone to watch this thrilling match."

The vice president smiled with refined elegance: "So, to ensure that everyone can witness this showdown, we’ve arranged a live broadcast through the school’s official website and social media platforms. You can all watch the real-time gameplay on your phones, computers, or other devices."